National media outlet names Bills' top 'under-the-radar' move this offseason
ESPN revealed their post-free agency power rankings this week and they kept the Buffalo Bills at No. 5. That's likely because the Bills didn't make any major splashes in free agency, but they didn't suffer any major losses, either. Buffalo will once again be one of the favorites to win the AFC in 2023. ESPN […]
ESPN revealed their post-free agency power rankings this week and they kept the Buffalo Bills at No. 5.
That's likely because the Bills didn't make any major splashes in free agency, but they didn't suffer any major losses, either.
Buffalo will once again be one of the favorites to win the AFC in 2023.
ESPN also revealed what they think was the Bills' top "under-the-radar" move this offseason.
And it was a move that had nothing to do with Buffalo's roster.
ESPN thinks the Bills' addition of Al Holcomb to the staff as a senior defensive assistant was Buffalo's top under-the-radar move of the offseason.
Holcomb previously served as the Carolina Panthers' interim defensive coordinator. He also worked in Carolina under Bills head coach Sean McDermott for four seasons (Holcomb was the Panthers' linebackers coach when McDermott was the defensive coordinator in Carolina).
From ESPN: Most of the Bills' significant free agency moves have been under the spotlight, but bringing in Holcomb as a senior defensive assistant was an all-around strong addition made even more important by defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier stepping away for a year. Holcomb was hired before Frazier's decision, per general manager Brandon Beane, but with the Bills not planning to replace Frazier with someone external, having an experienced defensive coordinator like Holcomb, who has worked with Sean McDermott and is familiar with his tendencies, is a positive for the Bills' defense.
McDermott confirmed this week that he will call defensive plays for the Bills in 2023. That could get a bit hectic for McDermott on game day. But having Holcomb, someone who has worked with McDermott before and has defensive coordinator experience, will help make the process as smooth as possible for Buffalo's veteran head coach.
